_And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing _ JOSHUA THE PRIEST We learn from the Book of Ezra (Ezra 2:36) that among the exiles who returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon, were Joshua or Jeshua, and 4289 priests. But they were in a sorry plight--their character is described by the prophet Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?_ A FIREBRAND The fire meant here is the fire of sin. Sin is a fire which destroys the comfort of mankind here, and all the joy of mankind hereafter. Nothing can be more suitable to burn in a fire than a “brand.” It is not a branch just taken from the tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take away the filthy garments from him _ REMOVAL OF GUILT Zechariah was shown the state and condition of God’s Church in his day, and the change wrought upon that Church; a change that must be wrought on all that belong to the Lord God Almighty, and which is wrought by Divine power and grace alon... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua _ A CHARGE TO YOUNG MINISTERS I. What the great Head of the Church requires of you. 1. Personal piety. “Walk in My ways.” This phrase denotes the whole of practical and experimental godliness. There can be no true piety without a previous scriptural con... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will give thee places to walk among those that stand by._ THE RIGHT OF ENTRY The prophet has just been describing a vision of judgment in which the high priest, as representative of the nation, stood before the angel of the Lord as an unclean person. He is cleansed, and clothed, and a fair prie... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are men wondered at _ CHRISTIANS A WONDER Joshua and his fellow worshippers were wondered at, both by the idolatrous Chaldeans and the unbelieving Jews, for their faith in the Divine predictions during the period of their captivity; that Jerusalem should be rebuilt, the temple worship restor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Under the vine and under the fig tree _ MESSIAH’S TIMES Thus inspiration characterises the reign of the Messiah. It was to be distinguished by three things. 1. Enjoyment. The very image is delightful. Vines and fig trees were much prized in the East. They afforded at once delightful fruit for t... [ Continue Reading ]